the South
Yaphank Civic Association was founded by Johan McConnell in 2004 and has, in a relatively short period of time, addressed much of the area's concerns and has established itself as a professional, articulate and factual organization earning the respect and admiration of many in local and county government as well as of other civic and community organizations.

OUR mission is to provide residents of Yaphank and Brookhaven hamlets with a forum to address issues of concern to our community. We advocate for residents’ input in all decisions affecting our community, to ensure the safety of our neighborhood, to enhance area property values as well as to encourage positive and strategic development of the area where appropriate and beneficial.

Our goalis to help to promote and
preserve the historic community of Yaphank.
We work to provide timely communication of important
information and facts between community members,
other civic organizations or agencies and the
elected and appointed decision makers of
Brookhaven Township and Suffolk County.

Despite
a
hope
that
Suffolk’s
lawmakers
would
apply
good
judgment,
common
sense
and
fairness
to
an
issue
that
has
clearly
spun
out
of
control,
the
contract
for
Hunter
Sports
to
operate
the
Suffolk
County
Trap
and
Skeet
range
has
been
renewed
for
another
five
years.
To
renew
a
contract
burdened
with
unresolved
legal
issues
is
reckless,
irresponsible
and
a
slap
in
the
face
to a
long
suffering
community
as
well
as
to
the
taxpayers
of
Suffolk
County,
but
sadly,
we’ve
learned
to
expect
this
sort
of
thing
from
our
so-called
lawmakers.

In
January
of
2006
the
Suffolk
County
Trap
and
Skeet
range
was
reopened
(after
a
five-year
closure
and
amid
much
controversy),
with
the
award
of a
contract
to
Hunter
Sports
to
operate
the
facility.
This
contract
stipulated
that
Hunter
Sports
“…comply
with
all
Federal,
State
and
local
laws,
rules,
regulations,
codes
and
ordinances
in
the
performance
of
this
[their]
Agreement…”
and
of
course
no
such
effort
was
ever
made.
In
fact,
shortly
after
reopening,
when
the
Town
of
Brookhaven
began
citing
Hunter
Sports
for
noise
violations
(as
they
clearly
said
they
would),
Hunter
Sports
initiated
a
civil
action
challenging
the
very
law
they
knew
existed
and
vowed
to
abide
by
in
writing.

The
legal
issues
have
since
dragged
on
for
nearly
ten
years,
having
yet
to
be
resolved.

An
odd
duality
has
always
existed
regarding
the
range
in
that
the
Suffolk
County
government
which
ought
to
be
looking
out
for
the
rights
and
quality
of
life
of
all
Suffolk
County
residents
can
so
stubbornly
fight
to
defend
something
that
marginalizes
the
very
same
rights
and
quality
of
life
of
other
(apparently
lesser
in
the
government's
view),
Suffolk
County
residents
living
near
their
shooting
range.

Do
we
not
deserve
the
same
consideration
as
other
County
residents?
And
if
so,
then
why
are
we
being
treated
as
if
we
are
unwanted
stepchildren?

The
two
thousand
or
so
people
who
regularly
endure
the
noise
generated
by
the
range
deal
with
it
all
the
time
because
we
live
here
in
Suffolk,
unlike
many
of
the
range’s
patrons
who
-
after
spending
several
hours
denying
us
the
right
to
quietly
enjoy
our
property
–
get
to
go
home
and
quietly
enjoy
theirs,
all
with
the
blessing
of
the
same
government
that’s
supposed
to
be
looking
out
for
all
of
its
constituents
no
matter
where
they
live.
In
fact,
during
his
first
campaign
for
office
Steve
Bellone
stood
before
our
community
on
May
10,
2011
and
told
us
that:
“Quality
of
life
issues
should
not
happen…people
have
a
right
to
live
in
quiet
enjoyment
of
their
property.”

Was
he
referring
to
ALL
people
living
in
Suffolk
or
just
those
who
don’t
live
near
its
shooting
range?

Considering
the
serious
impacts
of
the
range
on
our
community’s
quality
of
life,
the
ongoing
costs
of
litigation
being
incurred
by
Suffolk
County
taxpayers
as
well
as
the
costs
of
any
future
violations
if
the
court
continues
to
rule
in
favor
of
the
Town
of
Brookhaven
(as
it
has
consistently
done
since
2006),
the
option
to
renew
this
contract
SHOULD
NOT
HAVE
BEEN
EXERCISED
until
such
time
as
ALL
of
the
legal
issues
regarding
the
present
and
future
operation
of
the
shooting
range
have
been
adjudicated
and
final
decisions
have
been
rendered.

But
that
would
have
required
courage,
integrity
and
a
sense
of
fairness
on
the
part
of
our
so-called
leaders
and
it’s
obvious
that
they
do
not
possess
such
qualities.

That’s
a
sad
thing
for
our
community
but
sadder
still
for
Suffolk
County
itself.

FOR
THOSE
WHO MAY
BE
INTERESTED
IN THE
LEGAL DOCUMENTATION
OF THE
SHOOTING
RANGE CASE
PLEASE USE THE LINKS BELOW

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